Variable gearing for fare registers and recorders.



PA'I'BNTED APR. 2, 1907.

D. B. WHISTLER. V VARIABLE GEARING FOR FARE REGISTERS AND REOORDERS.

APPLIdATI ON FILED SEPT. 19,1906.

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BATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

1). B. WHISTLER. I VARIABLE GEARING FOR FARE REGISTERS AND R'EGORDERS.

APPLIUATION FILED SERT.19,1906.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZJ/Zisdieg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. WHISTLER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE RECORDING AND COMPUTING MACHINES COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed September 19, 1906. Serial No- 335,2'14.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. VVHISTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable Gearing for Fare Registers and Recorders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fare registers and recorders, and more specifically to a variable gear by means of which an operating-shaft having a fixed range of motionsuch, for instance, as a single-revolution shaft may be employed to add diflerent amounts upon the cash-counter, according to the way in which the variable gear is set.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon a similar mechanism set forth in an application filed by IN. I. Ohmer, Albert J. Kirchner, and John W. Hill, December 16, 1905, Serial No. 292,068, and assigned to The Recording and Computing Machines Company, the assignee of the present invention.

The invention has for its object to provide a structure of greater compactness and higher efficiency, possessing certain advantages which will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a structure embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the line 0c 00 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken in a plane corresponding to the line y y of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the gear member which is loose upon the o erating-shaft, the same being shown detac led. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one side of the gear member which is fast on the operating-shaft, the same being shown with the gear-teeth in position therein. Fig. 7 is a view of the opposite side of said member with the gear-teeth removed. Fig. 8 is an edge view of said gear member detached. Fig. 9 is a face view of the locking-pawl housing of said member detached. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the line w w of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of the clutch-coupling by which the loose gear member is driven, and Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of one of the gear-teeth detached.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the operating-shaft, to which a single revolution is imparted when the register is actuated by means of an actuating gear-sector 2, which drives a pinion 3, connected with the shaft 1 by a ratchet-clutch 4. The variable gear (indicated as a whole by the reference-numeral 5) comprises a body portion composed of two members 6 and 7, the former secured to the shaft 1 in any suitable manneras, for instance, by a set-screw 8so as to rotate in unison therewith, while the latter is normally free or loose on said shaft, so as to rotate independently thereof. In the eri hery of the member 6 are formed a pliirafity of grooves 9, said grooves extending transversely of the peripheral surface and being parallel with the axis of rotation of the member, or, in other words, parallel with the shaft 1. The outer portion of the gear member 6 is rabbeted or cut away, as indicated at 10, said portion being of less diameter than the main body of the member, while the grooves 9 are of a depth greater than the difference between the diameter of the main body of the gear member and the diameter of the reduced portion 10, so that said grooves are formed in or extend through both of said portions.

The gear member 7 is provided with a laterally-extending flange 11, which fits over the body portion of the member 6, said flange being of the same width as said body portion, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings. In the inner annular surface of the flange 11 of the member 7 there is formed a cam-groove comprising two substantially circular portions 12 and 13, connected at one end by an inclined portion 1 1, said circular portions lying in parallel planes side by side. In the grooves 9 of the member '6 are located gear-teeth 15 of a depth equal to the maximum depth of said grooves and a length equal to the width of the body portion of the member 6. Each tooth is provided with an outwardly-projecting pin 16, which fits within the camgroove in the flange 11 of the member 7. When the pin of any tooth lies in the circular portion 12 of said cam-groove, said tooth is retracted entirely within the body of the member 6, and when said pin is in the circular portion 13 of said cam-groove the tooth is moved laterally outward, so as to project radially beyond the peripheral face of the reduced portion 10 of the member 6 and form an effective gear-tooth. The inclined connecting portion 14 of the cam-groove permits the pins to shift from one of these positions to the other, and it will be seen that if the member 7 is rotated relatively to the member 6 all of the pins can be moved into one or the other of the two circular portions of the camgroove, and all of the teeth may be either projected into operative position or withdrawn into inoperative position. Similarly, any desired number of teeth may be thus projected. The number of teeth so projected into operative position is determined, of course, by the extent of the revolution of the member 7 relatively to the member 6. In order to insure the stoppage of the movement of the member 7 relatively to the member 6 in a position such that each tooth shall be entirely withdrawn or entirely projected, there may be employed a detent mechanism similar to that set forth in the prior application to Ohmer, Kirchner, and Hill hereinbefore specified. The member 7 is provided with a central opening 17, the margin of which has inwardly-extending detent-teeth 18. To the adjacent face of the body of the member 6 there is secured a segmental base 19, which fits between the hub and rim of the member 6 and which has projecting beyond it into the opening 17 a housing 20, arranged radially and carrying a pawl 21, adapted to engage the teeth 18. The housing 20 has a bore 22 of a diameter such as to receive the head of the pawl 21, the inner end of the bore being reduced to form an aperture 23 of a diameter such as to receive the shank 24 of the pawl, at the same time forming a shoulder 25, against which abuts one end of a spring 26, the other end of which abuts against the head of the pawl 21, acting to thrust the same radially outward. The length of the pawl and the stem is such that when the pawl is in engagement between two teeth the end of the shank lies flush with the inner end of the housing 20 and with the sur face of the shaft 1. This pawl also serves as a locking means to rigidly lock the two members of the gear together when it is in operation. To this end a key-bar 27 is mounted to slide longitudinally in a groove 28 in the shaft 1 and has formed therein a notch 29,

which when the parts are in their normal position registers with and receives the end of the pawl-shank 24. In this position of the parts the member .7 may be turned relatively to the member 6, the pawl yielding as the teeth 18 pass and the shank of the pawl receding into the notch 29 as the'pawl yields. When,

however, the key-bar 27 is moved to the right in Fig. 3 an unnotched portion thereof registers with the end of the shank 24, and the pawls cannot recede, so that the two members remain firmly locked together.

Rotation of the member 7 is effected in a way similar to that set forth in the prior application of Ohmer, Kirchner, and Hill, hereinbefore specified. A shaft 30, connected with or forming part of a setting mechanism, is provided with a bevel-gear 31, which meshes with a bevelgear 32, loosely mounted on the shaft 1 so as to rotate independently thereof. On this shaft there is splined a clutch member 33, having pins or projections 34, adapted to enter corresponding recesses 35 in the outer face of the member 7. This clutch member33 is splined on the hub of the gear 32, so as to move longitudinally thereon and rotate in unison therewith, and it will be seen that when said clutch member is engaged with the gear member 7 said gear member may be moved through the mechanism just provided, so as to rotate it to any desired position and cause the projection of any desired number of teeth. It will also be seen that when the clutch member is withdrawn from engagement with the gear member 7 this latter is free to rotate along with the I gear member 6 when locked thereto by the mechanism provided for that purpose.

The means provided for operating the clutch member 33 and key-bar 27 simultaneously may be identical with that set forth in the Ohmer, Kirchner, and Hill application hereinbefore specified. The gearsector 2 is provided with a projection 36, adapted to engage a collar 37 on a push-rod or slidebar 38 to move the same to the right of Fig. 1 at the beginning of the actuatingmovement of the gear-sector, a spring 39 returning it to normal position after the projection 36 has passed, and said projection yielding on its return movement to pass the collar 37 without affecting the bar 38. A collar 40 on the bar 38 engages one end of a clutch-lever 42, pivoted between its ends at 43, the other end being formed into a fork to engage a groove 44 in the hub of the clutch member 33. A spring 45 acts on the clutchlever 42 to move the clutch member 33 normally into engagement with the gear member 7. The movement of the rod 38 when acted on by the gear-sector 2 moves the clutch member 33 out of engagement with the gear member 7. The rod 38 also carries an arm 45, which engages a projection 46 on the end of the key-bar and shifts this bar over into position to lock the pawl 21, and thereby fasten together the two gear members 6 and 7 just before the shaft 1 begins to turn, this occurring simultaneously with the disengagement of the clutch member 33. A pin 47, normally in engagement with an aperture 48 in the gear member 6, is moved out of such engagement by the movement of the arm 45, to which it is attached, and since the shaft 1 and the variable gear begin to rotate just as soon as this pin is disengaged, said pin bearing against the outer face of the gear member 6 holds the clutch member 33 and the key-bar 27 in the position to which they have been moved, the former disengaged from its gear member and the latter locking the two gear members together until the gear has completed a revolution. Thereupon the pin 47 again enters the aperture 18 and holds the gear member 6 and shaft 1 against further rotary motion, while the clutch member 33 is again thrown into engagement with the gear member 7 ready to operate the same to set the gear again. A projection 49 on the outer face of the gear member 6 is so arranged as to come into contact with the arm 15 at the completion of the revolution of the variable gear, and thus form a positive stop independently of the pin 47.

50 indicates acounter operated by the variable gear through the medium of an intermediateZgear 51, with which mesh such teeth of the variable gear as may be projected into operative position. To prevent overthrow of the mechanism by momentum, a slide-bar 52 may be employed, having a tooth 53 to enter between the teeth of the gear 51, but normally held out of engagement by a spring 54. A cam 55 on the outer face of the gear mem her 6, acting on an arm 56 of the slide-bar 52, brings the tooth 53 into proper position to engage the teeth of the gear 51 at the end of a revolution of the variable gear.

It will be noted that the maximum diameter of the gear remains the same, whether the teeth be in operative or inoperative position. It will also be observed that the gear-teeth are very firmly supported when in either position, and that their movement from one position to another requires but little power, while the distance between them remains the same, whatever their position may be. The structure as a whole is therefore compact, strong, simple, and efficient.

I wish it to be understood that I do not de sire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an operatingshaft, of a variable gear comprising two members, one fixed on said shaft and the i other normally free to rotate relatively thereto, gear-teeth mounted to slide in one of said members transversely of the periph ery thereof, the other member having a cam engaging said gear-teeth to project and retract the same into and out of operative position, and means for rotating said cam member, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an operatingshaft, of a variable gear comprising two members, one fixed on said shaft and the other normally free to rotate relatively thereto, one of said members comprising a body having an offset portion of smaller diameter than said body and provided with transverse grooves extending across both portions, gearteeth mounted to slide in said grooves and adapted to be retracted within the main portion of the body and to be moved out from said main portion so as to project radially beyond the reduced portion, the other member having a flange encircling the main body of the tooth-bearing member and provided with a cam engaging said gear-teeth to project and retract the same, and means for rotating said cam member, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an operatingshaft, of a variable gear comprising two members, one fixed on said shaft, and the other normally free to rotate relatively thereto, one of said members having a body portion transversely grooved at its periphery and having a lateral adjoining portion of less diameter across which the grooves extend, gear-teeth mounted to slide in said grooves and having dimensions such as to fit entirely within those portions of said grooves which lie within the body portion of said member, said teeth being provided with radially-projecting pins, the other member being provided with a flange which fits around the body portion of the tooth-bearing member, said flange being provided with an internal cam-groove to receive the pins of the teeth, said cam-groove comprising two circular portions lying in parallel planes and connected by an inclined intermediate portion, substantially as described.

4. In a variable gear of the character described, a tooth-bearing member having a rim and hub, and a cam-bearing member rotatable relatively thereto and provided with an aperture having marginal teeth, in combination with a housing located in said aperture and having a base secured to the inner face of the tooth-bearing member between its hub and rim, and a spring-pawl mounted in said housing and engaging the marginal teeth of the aperture of the cam-bearing member, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with an operatingshaft, of a variable gear comprising a toothbearing member fixed on said shaft and a cam-bearing member normally free to rotate thereon, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch member splined on the hub of said gear and adapted to engage the cambearing member, and means for operating said clutch member, substantially as de scribed.

6. The combination, with an operatingshaft, of a variable gear comprising two members, one fixed on said shaft and the other normally free to rotate relatively thereto gear-teeth mounted to slide in one of said members, the other member having a cam engaging said gear-teeth to project and retract the same into and out of operative position, and. means for rotating said cam member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID B. WHISTLER.

VVitnessesz.

JOHN E. MoALLIsTER, CHARLES J. HALL. 

